Chicago Police Department posted a tweet with a video of three people brutally attacking Kwame Amoaku, Director of the Chicago Film Office. The post also included surveillance video of his attackers shopping at the North Riverside Park Mall after the attack.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Amoaku to lead the city’s film office in July 2019. He previously worked as the location manager for Chicago Fire, and appeared as an actor on various locally-filmed TV shows. He also worked on the Netflix 2019 Chicago hip-hop feature, Beats and he directed Reel 360 editor Colin Costello’s music video for Lincoln in 2010.
Last week Amoaku posted a photo of himself in the hospital on Facebook and said, “This a.m. I was attacked, beaten and my car stolen by three kids. Thanks to all who have reached out. I’m in the ICU. I’m going to be ok.”
CWBChicago reported that according to CPD, Amoaku noticed three males rummaging inside his car as he walked toward it around 7:46 a.m. He confronted the intruders. They then used various objects to brutally attack him. The group then fled in a gray Dodge Caravan that was waiting nearby.
According to police, they returned to the scene moments later and beat and robbed the victim again before leaving a second time in his car.
Amoaku suffered a broken arm, head injury, and multiple contusions from the attack and the police believe he was struck by a baseball bat and/or a skateboard. He has already been discharged from Mt. Sinai Hospital and is recuperating at home.
He later posted on Amoaku’s Facebook page:
“I’m still here thanks to God’s Grace and Mercy. I love you all thanks for the support for me and my family. I’m gonna get through this with the love and support from you all.”
The police are asking for the public’s help in identifying Amoaku’s assailants and they shared a video of the attack, as well as still photos from surveillance videos from their shopping spree at North Riverside Park Mall:
Kwame Amoaku shared photos from the surveillance video on his own Instagram account as well, asking for the public to help, “Please get them off the streets before they kill somebody.”
Anyone who has information about the crime or the suspects can contact Area Four detectives at 312-746-8251. Anonymous tips can be submitted to cpdtip.com. The case number is JF-191078.
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